SUBJECT: THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL HYPOTHESIS (ETH) FILE: UFO2693 From UFOs and the Limits of Science by Ronald D. Storey c. 1981 Reproduced for educational purposes only. The Extraterrestial Hypothesis (ETH) By far the most popular "theory" concerning the origin of UFOs, the ETH is also the one that over the years has aroused the most emotion and controversy. It is based on the assumption that one or more civilizations from outer space, far in advance of our own, have mastered interstellar space flight and have had the human race under systematic observation since at least 1947. SOme see a long-term involvement by the extraterrestials and propose that they have been watching over man and perhaps even controlling his physical and cultural development for millennia, thus linking the ETH to the ancient astronaut concept. The main problem with the ETH is space and time, space in the sense that the average distance between the 130 billion or more stars in our Milky Way Galaxy is enormous, and time in the sense that these great distances would make an interstellar voyage very long. Then there are the economic, engineering, and motivational aspects of such an enterprise. Despite this, there is a pro-UFO movement which uncritically believes in the ETH. There is no problem with such a belief, provided it is identified as such and is not construed as representing an empiracal fact. At the same time, the idea of an extraterrestial origin for UFOs as a hypothesis is quite reasonable, despite the strong feelings against the possibility by many scientists who should know better. The real basis for the ETH debate, although many involved in the debate are seemingly unaware of it, is not whether (or how much) advanced intelligence exists in the galaxy. Most scientists will agree that there are probably many such intelligent civilizations in the galaxy. It is not even whether such civilizations have developed interstellar- travel capability. The real point of debate concerns the "volume of traffic." That is, most scientists find it very difficult to accept the idea of extraterrestial visitation on the scal implied by UFO reports; that, to them, tends to invalidate all UFO reports. In fact, if UFO sightings were not so common (say, just one good report every three or four years), perhaps more scientists would seriously consider the ETH. Interestingly, this is precisely the reverse of what many exasperated UFO proponents believe; hence, their attempts to "prove" the ETH by the sheer numbers of reports. Despite intensive research by many individuals, scientific bodies, and federal agencies for more than three decades, no proof of extraterrestial visitation has been produced. Such an idea, therefore, must remain as only a viable and intriguing hypothesis, very difficult to test and frustrating to debate. ********************************************** * THE U.F.O. BBS - http://www.ufobbs.com/ufo * **********************************************